“The Ultimate Fighter 17″ cast member Zak Cummings had been in the MMA business for so long without a big break that he considered adopting a character to sell fans and promoters.

A Strikeforce, Bellator and MFC veteran, Cummings (13-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) had the big-show credentials with none of the benefits. An existing contract with Strikeforce thwarted a chance to get on “TUF 11.”

“I’m always the guy that gets overlooked,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I’m not in your face and trying to make my name known all the time. I just do my thing, and I win for the most part.”

Cummings’ career was in neutral, and he needed to do something about it. But he quickly reconsidered adopting some kind of schtick when he thought about the type of person he might become.

“I don’t want someone meeting me and someone else thinking they met a different version of me,” Cummings said.

Now, fans will get to see the guy who calls himself a little country bumpkin from Missouri. A show like “TUF” provides fighters like him the chance to be seen by millions and win a UFC contract, which offers a measure of stability in an unstable profession.

After working job as a customer care rep at Verizon Wireless and going to school full-time for exercise and movement science, it’s just the kind of opportunity Cummings needs.

“I look at it as just another step to where I want to be,” he said. “I’m very excited about it, because I’ve gone to school and worked and trained, and I’ve done pretty well for myself.”

Cummings has the most big-show experience among the “TUF 17″ contestants, but he believes his best work is yet to come.

“I don’t think I’ve seen close to my full potential,” he said. “By doing this, I think it will give me the opportunity to train full-time.”

And considering that he didn’t have to wear a tutu or cut a pro-wrestling promo to get there, he’s all the more happy.

“I’m not going to sell myself out,” Cummings said.

He’s still at that in-between point where fighters know him as a tough opponent and casual fans haven’t caught up. But that could change in the next 12 weeks.

“I’ve always felt like I was right there, so hopefully this is my time,” Cummings said.

MMAjunkie.com interviewed all 14 of “The Ultimate Fighter 17″ preliminary-round winners, each of whom was featured in the debut episode of “TUF 17: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen.” Two new interviews will be released each day until the season’s second episode airs on Jan. 29.

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